Timeline
Individual research programs will provide details about deadlines of accepting offers of admission and returning the Student Acceptance Agreement form.
Benefits
Financial Benefits
Competitive Stipend
Stipends are paid on a weekly or bi-weekly basis. Students will receive a check and will be able to cash the check free of charge at the Wells Fargo branch location in the Nebraska Union. Students may also opt to send the check to their home bank for deposit into your bank account. For more information about the stipend amount, visit the research programs page and access the program summary for your area of interest.
Room and Board
Room and board for the duration of the summer research program is covered at no expense to summer program scholars. Accommodations include a double-occupancy dorm room and 20-meal per week plan. Scholars will be matched with suitemates from within the summer program.
Neihardt Residence Center is centrally located on campus. Sheets, pillow, pillowcase, bedspread/blanket, and daily towel exchange are included. Across the street, Selleck dining center features a market-place-style eatery with stone-baked pizza and pasta, made-to-order deli and soup bar, ethnic cuisine, omelet bar, traditional fare, American grill, extensive salad bar and bakery case filled with desserts. Nebraska is a dry campus and alcohol is not allowed in the residence halls or anywhere on campus.
Travel and Transportation
Travel expenses to and from Lincoln, NE, are covered for summer program scholars. Mileage reimbursement is determined on a case-by-case basis for scholars who drive. In addition to round-trip airfare, the cost of checking two under-weight bags is covered for scholars who travel by air. Campus parking passes are available for students who drive. Bus passes for StarTran, the local bus system, are available at no cost to students with lab locations on East Campus. Otherwise the cost is $25.
Recreation Center
Full access to the Campus Recreation Center is available at no cost to summer scholars. (Group fitness courses are available for a small fee.)
Their facilities include:
- Strength training and conditioning room
- Indoor and outdoor tracks
- Swimming pool
- Climbing wall
- Super circuit
- Indoor and outdoor football field
- Basketball, volleyball, badminton, and racquetball courts and equipment
- Outdoor soccer fields and tennis courts
Computer Access and Wireless Internet
Most students choose to bring a laptop to campus, but it’s not required. Summer scholars have access to computer labs located throughout campus. Access to the campus wireless Internet is also provided for the duration of the program at no cost to summer scholars. Most campus buildings are wireless.
Academic Benefits
Mentoring and Research
Because faculty mentors select summer research scholars for their research projects, students can expect a highly engaging mentoring experience. Most students will have a faculty and graduate student mentor throughout the summer.
Research projects are described in detail by each program and mentor, but all are designed with the goal of having a completed, high-quality, presentable project by the end of the summer experience. Past participants have presented summer research projects in poster and presentation sessions at national conferences, and a few were published in peer-reviewed journals. Review research programs to access a list of this year's mentors and projects.
Community of Scholars
The summer is a short time to undertake a research project, but a long time to be away from family and friends. A unique feature of the Nebraska Summer Research Program is that we facilitate interaction among all of our visiting summer research students (71 in 2011!). This allows scholars to get to know students conducting research in other science, technology, engineering and mathematics disciplines and provides more opportunities for you to develop friendships with students from across the country.
Seminars and Workshops
In addition to discipline-specific symposia and seminars offered by the individual research programs, scholars have the opportunity to attend general academic and professional development workshops.
Workshop topics include:
- Applying to graduate school
- Funding graduate education
- Taking the GRE
- Research ethics
A concluding research symposium gives scholars the opportunity to showcase their research and prepare for professional conference presentations.
Social Events
It's important to have fun too! Several group activities are offered to summer scholars at no cost or a very minimal cost. Annual activities include:
- Summer Research Welcome Picnic
- Day trip to Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo and Omaha Old Market
- Overnight canoe and camping trip along the Niobrara National Scenic River
- Swimming and fireworks at Branched Oak Lake
Individual research programs also plan social activities, such as bowling league, ice cream socials, Salt Dogs baseball games, and more.
Library
Access to the campus libraries is provided at no cost to summer scholars and most resources are accessible online. Access to interlibrary loan services and discipline-specific libraries such as the Math Library and Engineering Library are also provided.
Eligibility
- U.S. Citizen or Permanent Resident
- Current undergraduate with at least one semester of coursework remaining before obtaining a bachelor's degree (E.g., students graduating in May are not eligible for the Summer Research Program for the summer in which they graduate.)
- Each research program may have unique criteria or prerequisites, learn more by visiting the research programs pages.
Preference will be given to students based on these criteria:
- Completion of advanced coursework related to the research area
- Junior or senior standing with one year of remaining undergraduate coursework
- Evidence of interest in pursuing an advanced degree (master's or Ph.D.)
Applications are especially encouraged from students in these groups:
- Historically underrepresented in graduate education, including students with disabilities
- Currently attending academic institutions where research programs are limited
Participant Responsibilities
The Nebraska Summer Research Program offers outstanding undergraduates the chance to work in research labs and to preview graduate school. Students work under faculty mentorship and as part of a research team that may include graduate students, post-docs, research scientists, and other summer scholars.
Failure to meet program expectations, failure to adhere to University of Nebraska-Lincoln campus policies, and/or violations of Nebraska State Law will result in dismissal from the Summer Research Program and forfeiture of monetary stipend and program benefits. Violations of Nebraska State Law are subject to penalties as determined by state or local authorities.
Summer scholars are expected to:
- Make a full-time commitment to the Summer Research Program and to their research project. Employment outside of the Summer Research Program is highly discouraged.
- Present research project and findings at the closing research symposium. (Summer scholars participating in 8-week programs have alternative events for disseminating findings.)
- Be a responsible and conscientious visiting scholar. Conduct that infringes upon the rights of others to an orderly living environment or that poses danger to self or others is not acceptable under any circumstances.
- Adhere to all University of Nebraska-Lincoln policies and Nebraska state laws. That includes these:
- UNL Alcohol Policy: Possession or consumption of alcohol on the University of Nebraska-Lincoln campus (including residence halls) is prohibited, regardless of the student's age. In addition, it is a violation to display containers with residue that held or was intended to hold alcoholic beverages (i.e. bottles or cans).
- UNL Drug Policy: Possession, use, and/or distribution of illegal drugs, drug paraphernalia and/or controlled substances (including marijuana, narcotics, or prescription drugs intended for use by another individual) on campus or in any University of Nebraska-Lincoln residence hall is prohibited.
- UNL Tobacco Policy: University of Nebraska-Lincoln residence halls are tobacco-free. This includes the use of any tobacco product. Smoking areas are located outside each residence hall and residents and their guests must dispose of tobacco materials in the receptacles provided. In addition, smoking is not permitted within ten feet of building perimeters, including entrances.
